Artificial eyes for dolls, display-figures, and the like



S. MARCUS.

ARTIFICIAL EYES FOR DOLLS, DISPLAY FIGURES, AND THE LlKE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 29, 19]).

awuml for 1 ,Jbmasz /V4wcms' flttozucl Patented Feb. 17,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL MARCUS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSINOR TO F. & M. NOVELTY GO-,INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ARTIFICIAL EYES FOR DOLLS, DISPLAY-FIGURES, AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1'7, 1920.

Application filed October 29, 1919. Serial No. 334,175.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, SAMUEL MARcUs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Eyes for Dolls, Display-Figures, and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of eyes for dolls and other purposes, such as display figures, and the Invention consists in the novel features heI'einafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention pertains more especiall Y to novel shells of metal for receiving the bridge piece connecting the eyes of a pair or set and the covering material, such as thin sheet celluloid, upon which may be printed a representation of the iris of the eye. The 1nvention also pertains to a novel construction of hanger for suspending the bridge piece and also suspending the weight which effects the movements of the eyes to open and closed position in accordance with the position of the doll.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce an eye structure which is capable of being angularly adjusted to suit the sockets of the eyes in the heads of dolls,fthese sockets being somewhat irregular in different doll heads, and another purpose of the invention is to provide a novel application of a spring to the hanger adapted to press the eyes with reasonable firmness against the sockets therefor in the head of a doll.

The invention will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accom panying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the face of a doll and eye mechanism embodying the essential features of my invention, the section through the eye mechanism being taken on the dotted line 11 of Fig. 2; V

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of an eye-set embodyiug my invention, the

shown on a larger scale thanofFig. l andias. detached from the inner surface of the dol'ls face;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged" vertical section through a portion of the same, taken'cn the dotted line 33 of Fig. 2; c

. invention, Fig. 6 bein same. being 7 feigned at its. upper end with an ope Fig. 4 is an inner face view of a portion he same, a part of the bridge p1ece be- Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the same, taken on the dotted line 55 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 illustrates a modified form of the a vertical sectional view through one of t e eyes and illustrating a pair of eccentrics as the means for securing thev eye to the bridge piece; Fi 7 is a corresponding view of the same illustrating the eccentrics in their released position or prior to having been tightened uponthe bridge piece by being turned to the position in which they are shown in Fig; 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional view through the serge, taken on the dotted line 8--8,of Fig. 6, an

Fig. 9 is a sectional view through the same, taken on the dotted line 99 of Fi 6. In the drawings, 10 indicates the face portion of the head of an ordinary doll and 11, 12, respectivel indicate the right eye and left'eye for t e doll. The eyes 11, 12 are of substantially correspondin construction, and each eye has an inner su stantially hemi-spherical'metal shell 13 and an outer covering shell 14 which may be of celluloid and bear a representation of the iris of an eye, The metal shells 13 are of s ecial construction and involve important eatures of my invention, which features will presently be explained. The eyes 11,12 are adjustably supported upon a bridge piece 15, wh chcmay be a plain stifl' rodof wire, and

this bridge piece is pivotally mounted in slotted earslfi bent forwardly from a metal plate or hanger 17, which is intended to be secured against the inner face of the doll by shellac or other cementitious material 117, as shown in Fig. 1. The slots in the ears 16 are numbered 18 and correspond with the slots forming a part of my invention described and claimed in my a plies.- tien for Letters Patent filed Decem er 31, 1,918, Serial No. 269,082. The hanger 1? is 1mm ignite which a portion of the cementitiou materialf117 enters and which cooperates with said material in the firm securin of lth'e-"eye-set to the inner face of the he of the do The plate hanger 17 has secured to it a bent spring 20whose lower ends press against the bridge-piece 15 at opposite sides 0 the center thereof, said spring 20 being substantially in the outline of an ordinary hair-pin, its bent portion being extended upwardly and its two leg members downwardly and engaging the bridge-piece 15, as shown in Fig. 1. In this instance 1 secure the spring 20 to the plate or hanger 17 by cutting two transverse slits 21 in said plate or hanger and passing the bent end of the spring through said slits, the metal strip 22 formed by the slitting of the plate 17 being then crowded against the adjacent surfaces of the spring 20 so as to bind said spring in position. The spring 20 may thus be secured in position on the plate or han er 17 without the use of solder or other fbreign fastening means. The spring 20 may further be fastened to the hanger by having its upper bent end bent rearwardly through the opening 19 thereof and turned downwardly against the inner or rear face of the hanger, thus constituting a hook which would prevent any possible downward withdrawal of the spring from the hanger or plate 17. One feature of my invention resides in the method proposed for securing the spring 20 to the hanger or plate 17 and the other features of my invention reside in the novel shells 13 for the individual eyes, this second feature having to do more par ticularly with the novel means for securing the eyes to the end portions of the bridgepiece 15.

At the center of the bridge-piece 15 I secure the upper end of the usual rod 23 carrying at its lower end the weight 24 of customary construction and performing the usual known function of effecting the turning of the eyes in accordance with the position of the doll.

Referring to the metal shells 13 shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, 1 would say that these shells are each in one integral piece of sheet metal formed from a sheet metal blank and slit and stamped up to create the outer hemispherical portion or body of the shell 25, a transverse strip 26 exten ing from one edge to the other of the body portion 27 which project forwardly from the strip 26 and from opposite edges thereof. as shown in Fig. 5, said ears 27 becoming thus spaced apart, and by preference concealed within the body portion 25. The strip or cross-bar 26 has a threaded hole 28 in it to receive the adjusting screw 29 by which the eye may be fastened to the bridge 15. ears 27am formed with alined apertures 31) through which the end of the bridge-piece 15 may be passed and thereafter the eye may be secured to said bridge-piece by turnin the screw 29 inwardly against the bridge-piece to bind the 'same against the. ears 27.v At its opposite edges in line with 25, and ears the bridge 15 each shell 18 is cut away, as at 31, to form spacious openings for the bridge-piece 15 and to permit the eye to be adjusted along said bridge, as occasion may require. The openings 31 also permit of the angular adjustment of the eyes to suit the sockets in the head of a doll. Should an eye when placed on the bridge and located opposite an eye socket not correctly fit the socket owing to an irregularity therein, the eye may be bent in one direction or the other to compel the eye to properly fit the socket with the iris of the eye in its correct position with respect to said socket, and this bending of the eye may be done while the eye is fastened to the bridge 15, the bending taking place in the ears 27 or strip 26 or in both said ears and strip. It may be understood on reference to Fig. 5 that if the eye there shown should not aline with the socket, although in true position on the bridge 15, said eye may be forcibly bent to the right or to the left to meet the conditions of the eye-socket, this bending being accomplished by taking hold of the eye and turning it to one direction or the other. while at the same time bending the ears 27 or strip 26 or both said ears and strip owing to the non-bendability of the bridge-piece 15, the weaker part bending when the eye is turned to the right or to the left, and that part being the cars 27 or strip 26 or both said ears and strip, since both are connected together. The part which will bend when the eye is turned, just described, will more likely be the strip 26 which will then be given it twisting action, due to the bracing of the ears 27 by the bridge-piece 15.

Having regard to Figs. 4 and 5 more particularly, it will be seen that the blank from which the shell 13 is formed has its rear portions between the cross-strip 26 and the recesses 31 bent inwardly, as at 32. and then downwardly and inwardly as at 33, whereby the edges of the shell become strengthened and a cup portion is created with the similar formation indicated at 34, given to the end portions of the transverse strip 26. The outer or forward surface of the shell 13 is hemi-spherical in outline, and the inner or rear portion of said shell is of cup-formation and has the transverse strip 26, cars 27 and the sections 32, 34.

The celluloid or other material 14 used for covering the shell 13 is carried over the rear portion of said shell, as indicated at 36 in Fig. 3, and thereby a portion of the rear surface of the shell 13 is covered over and the cup-portion at the rear face of the shell affords space to receive the edges of the celluloid shell 14. said space housing said edges of said shell 14 and serving as addi tional means for securing said shell 14 in rigid position. In the present instance the admstment of the eyes to the sockets is not a part bent being more particularly the strip 26, which extends from edge to edge. of the shell 13, as shown in Fig. 4. The strip 26 is inwardly depressed in line with the depressed surfaces 33 of the shell, and this in some instances makes it necessarfy to bulge outwardly the central portion 0 the strip 26, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and .5, to bring the openings in the cars 27 into proper position to receive the bridge 15, and also to properly locate the aperture 28 in said strip to receive the screw 29.

The method of employing the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, will be understood from the foregoing descri tion without special further explanation. fter the eyes are formed they are slipped upon in the head of the doll and thereu the ends of the bri -piece 15 and spaced turned outwardly in a direction from each other 'or to the position illustrated in Fig. 7, thereby releasing the eccentrics or cams 42, 43 from the bridge 40 and leaving the eye to be slid along said bridge. The shells numbered 45, in Fi s. 6 to 9 inclusive, will be covered with celluloid shells 46 correspondi exactly with the celluloid shell 14 of Fig. 3, and the shell 45 of Fig. 6 corresponds with the other metal shells shown in the drawings with the exception, of having apart to suit the spacings of the eye-sockets n the screws 29 are tightened to fasten t e eyes uponsaid bridge-piece. The eyes may be turned angularly on the axis of the bridge-- piecebefore the screws 29 are tightened or thereafter on the loosening of said screws for an adjustment of the eyes to the eye sockets A further adjustment of the eyes to the eye-sockets, which seems to be necessary very frequently, is the twisting or turning of the eyes .at an an le to the axis of the bridge 15, and in acco ance with m invention this adjustment of the eyes to t e sockets may be accomplished by forcibly turning the eyes to one side or the other, as occasion may require, and while do'ng so bending or twisting the strip 26. T e eye-set may be secured in the head of the doll by cementitious material 117 applied against the upper end of the hanger or late 17 to anchor the siailne to the inner sur ace of the face of the In the modification of my invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive I depress the cross-strip 36, corresponding with the crossstrip 26 of Fig. 4, and bend the cars 37, which are at opposite edges thereof, outwardly, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, instead of inwardly or to the position in which the ears 27 are shown in Fig. 5. The ears 37 are apertured, as at 38, (Fig. 9), to receive the bridge-piece numbered 40 in this modification, and are also apertured to receive a rivet or pin 41 which is utilized to hold between the ears 37 two eccentrics or cams 42. 43 having handles 44, and adapted on the bringing together of said handles to bind against the bridge-piece 40. as, shown in Fig.

6. and thereby lock the eye in position thereits cross-piece 36 depressed inwardly and its cars 37 projected outwardly or re'arwardly in lieu of said cross-piece having its ears projected forwardly or into the shells in the manner indicated in Fig. 5. The constructions being so similar in man respects, I deem it unnecessary to add elaborate description as to the modification shown 'in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive. The eyes shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive may be convenientl ad usted along the bridge-piece-in ance with the spacing of the eye-sockets-and may also be turned angularly on thebr-idge. iece to suit said sockets, and said eyesfmay 90 so be twisted tothe right or left, in the manner I have hereinbefore explained, with .respectto the construction shown in Fig." 5,

the cros-piece or strip 36 of Fi 6 twisting" i or yielding to the movement to the right or left that may be 'ven to the eye in adjustmg the same to t e eye-socket.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters-Patent. is:

1. An eye for dolls and the like comprising a substantially hemispherical metal shell having a strip extending from edge to edge of its rear slde and ears projecting angularly from opposite edges of said strip and affording bearings for the end of a bridge- 1 piece of a pair of eyes, means for securing said shell on such bridge-piece, and an outer covering on said shell.

2. An eye for dolls and the like comprising a substantially hemispherical metal shell having a strip extending from edge to edge of its rear side, ears projecting angularly from opposite edges of said strip and affording bearings for the end of a bridgepiece of a pair of eyes and segmental sections integral with and extending inwardly from the edges of said shell at opposite sides of the ends of said strip and partly closing the rear side of said shell, means for securing said shell on such bridge-piece and 1 an outer covering on said shell.

3. An eye for dolls and the like comprising a substantially hemispherical metal shell having a strip extending from edge to edge of its rear side and ears projecting angularly from opposite edges of said strip and affording bearings for the end of a bridgepiece of a pair of eyes, means for securing said shell on such bridge-piece. and an outer covering on said shell, the end portions of said strip being inwardly depressed, and said outer covering being a shell having its edges overlapping the edges of said metal shell.

4. An eye for dolls and the like comprising a substantially hemispherical metal shell having a strip extending from edge to ed e of its rear side, ears projecting angular y from op osite edges of said strip and affording arings for the end of a bridgepiece' of a pair of eyes and segmental sections integral with and extending inwardly from the edges of said shell at opposite sides of the ends of said strip and partly closing the rear side of said shell, means for securing said shell on such bridge-piece. and an outer covering on said shell, the end portions of said strip and said segmental sections being set inwardly, and said outer covering bein a shell having its edges overlapping the e ges of said metal shell.

5. An eye for dolls and the like comprising a substantially hemispherical metal shell having a strip extending from edge to edge of its rear side and integral at both ends therewith and capable of being twisted to adjust the eye to the eye-socket of a doll, means for securing the end of a bridge-piece of a pair of eyes to said strip, and an outer covering on said shell.

6. An eye for dolls and the like comprising a substantially hemispherical metal shell having a strip extending from edge to edge of itsrear side and inte ral at both ends therewith and ca ble 0 being twisted to adjust the eye to t e eye-socket of a doll and having ears projecting angular-l therefrom and apertured to receive the end of a bridge piece for a. pair of eyes, means for securing said shell on such bridge-piece. and an outer covering on said shell.

7. An eye for dolls and the like comprising a substantially hemispherical metal Sllt'll having a strip extending from edge to edge oi its rear side and integral at both ends therewith and capable of being twisted to adjust the eye to the eye-socket of a doll and having ears projecting angularly therefrom and apertured to receive the end of a bridge piece for a pairof eyes. means for securing said shell on such bridge-piece. and an outer covering on said shell. said cars being projected inwardly into said shell. and the means for securing the eyes on said bridge-piece being a set screw extending through said strip and binding against said bridge-piece.

8. In combination. a pair of eves for a doll and the like. a bridge-piece connecting said eyes, ,a plate adapted to be secured to the inner surface of the head of a doll and supporting said eyes and a weight for actuating said eyes on the movement of the doll, said eyes each comprising a substantially hemispherical metal shell having a strip extending from edge to edge of its rear side and ears projected inwardly from the side edges of said strip and apertured to receive an end of said bridge-piece, means for adjustably securing said bridge-piece in the apertures of said ears, and an outer covering for said shell.

9. In combination, a pair ofeves for a doll and the like. a bridge piece connecting said eyes, a plate adapted to be secured to the inner surface of the head of a doll andsupporting said eyes, a weight for actuating said eyes on the movement of the doll, and a spring secured to said plate and acting to press said eves against the eye-sockets of the doll, said plate'lraviug an opening at which the upper cud of said spring, which is below the upper end of said plate, is exposed and at which a cementitious material may be applied for securing the plate in position.

10. In combination, a pair of eyes for a doll and the like, a bridge piece connecting said eyes. a plate adapted to e securedto the inner surface of the head of a doll and supporting said eyes, a weight for actuating said eyes on the movement of the doll, and a spring secured to said plate'and actin to press said eyes against the eye-sockets 0 the doll, said plate having a transverse strip slit therein and a portion of said spring being inserted beneath said strip and bound to said plate thereat.

11. An eve for dolls and the'like comprising iisubstantially hemispherical metal shell having a strip cxtending'from edge to edge of its rear side and ears projecting an'gularly from opposite edges of said strip and affording bearings for the end of a bridge-piece of a pair of eves. means for securing said shell on such bridge-piece. and an outer covering on said shell. the end portions of said strip being set inwardly and its central portion bulged outwarrlly, and the means for securing the eye on said bridge-picce bcin r a set screw extending forwardly through t e outwardly bulged portion of said strip and engaging said bridge-piece.

12. In combination, a pair of eyes for a. doll and the like, a bridge-piece connecting said eves. a plate adapted to be secured to the inner surface of the head of a doll and supporting said eves and a weight for .actuating said eves on the movement of the doll, said eves each comprising a substantially lu-misphcrical metal shell having a strip extending from edge to edge of its rear side and cars projected inwardly from the side edges of said strip and aperturcd to receive an end of said bridge-piece. means for adustablv securing said bridge-piece in the apertures of said ears. and an outer covering for said shell. said strip being capable of being twisted to adapt the eve to the eyesocket of a doll, said bridge-piece being a New York and State of New York, this 27th stifl' rod of wire and said shell and its coverday of October, A. D. 1919.

ing at the inner side edge thereof being recessed to receive the bridgeiece and ermit SAMUEL MARCUS 6 the angular adjustment of t e eye wit rela- Witnesses:

tion thereto. AARON Fmns'mm,

Signed at New York city in the county of ARTHUR MARION. 

